Referee announced for West Ham v Fulham- Cottagers unbeaten in last 7 Premier League games under him!

The referee for West Ham’s Game Week 27 fixture against Fulham has been announced, and it’s Lee Mason. Recent history tells us that this may not be the best appointment for the Hammers, and here are two BIG reasons for it being so.

West Ham have lost their last five games under Lee Mason

Fulham are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games under Mason

Mason was the referee when the Hammers last lost at the London Stadium- a 2-0 reverse at the hands of Watford back in December. Manuel Pellegrini’s side had won four in a row leading into that game, but had that winning streak snapped by the Hornets. That fixture was also the last in which we saw Fabian Balbuena, who limped off in the first half. After nearly two months on the sidelines, the Paraguayan has now recovered from his knee injury, and looks likely to feature in some form (potentially off the bench) on Friday night against the Cottagers.

West Ham last five PL games under Lee Mason

West Ham 0-2 Watford (22 December 2018)- 2018/19 Premier League season
Arsenal 4-1 West Ham (22 April 2018)- 2017/18 Premier League season
West Ham 0-3 Burnley (10 March, 2018)- 2017/18 Premier League season
West Ham 2-3 Newcastle (23 Dec, 2017)- 2017/18 Premier League season
Southampton 3-2 West Ham (19 August, 2017)- 2017/18 Premier League season

Fulham returned to the top flight after spending four seasons in the Championship. Their Premier League record this decade under Mason is quite good, as shown by the results below.

Fulham’s last seven PL games under Lee Mason (from most recent to oldest)

For Fulham’s last Premier League defeat under Mason, one has to go all the way back to May 2011- their 5-2 loss at the hands of Liverpool, with the Reds then being managed by Kenny Dalglish.

The 47 year old’s last game as ref came over the weekend in League Two- he dished out five yellows as Notts County beat Mansfield Town 1-0 at Meadow Lane. Prior to that, he was in charge of the Championship game between West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest, where he gave a controversial late penalty to Albion that allowed them to equalise.

Mason will be assisted by Harry Lennard and Adrian Holmes, with Stuart Attwell serving as the fourth referee.